A guy named Karl got me started on building one year ago this coming July. I never even heard of most of the terms, but could fly a simulator. Not much help. One of the really big leg-ups that did help - and still helps today - is a series of guidelines for building I found. Basically, it is how to stay out of real trouble and give one a fighting chance.
I made myself a cheat sheet as I reference it so much. 
They way that I used it was to start with Chord (in the drawing "c") and make everything else from that. I made sure I had a fuselage reference line early and measured everything from it as I went. I trial balanced a lot through the whole process to stay near the C.G. goals of getting fuselage and wing at the right point.
Eventually it flew and with adjustments flew well and I put that down to this little guide.
Hope it helps.
Mike
Forth Trial flight of our KFx-1, made from yardsticks and insulation board.
The original collection of facts comes from Romney Bukolt and published
in "Marcs Sparks" in about 1975 - but it can be hard to find. This reference below has a good drawing and explanation of one way to use the information. It's the one I used initially.
Ref: http://www.indiarc.com/modeldesign.htm
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